The electrical utility industry is experiencing paradigm shifts across the globe, brought on by growing pressure to do more with their existing energy capacity while integrating clean energy sources. Regulators, along with the public, expect the industry to facilitate consumers in making informed decisions that save energy and respond to environmental concerns. The industry must also help accelerate efforts by customers to adopt up-and-coming energy technologies such as solar photovoltaics (PV), wind generation and plug-in hybrid vehicles. As a result, utilities are responding with new programs that address renewable energy generation, demand-side management and intelligent distribution.
With energy demand growing, the smart grid provides opportunities for utility operators to transform their electrical networks. By using Intel® technologies, which provide higher levels of scalability, performance, energy-efficiency and serviceability, next-generation equipment can offer utilities improved energy management and lower operating costs.
Architecting Tomorrow’s Electrical GridWhite PaperEnergy Industry
Distributing computing intelligence is a necessary step in the transformation of the electrical network to enable utility operators to do more with their existing energy capacity
Why Distributed Intelligence?
As the grid grows in complexity, utility operators need intelligent agents
that make real-time decisions that directly affect operational efficiency
dispersed throughout the electrical network. Network architectures
based on distributed intelligence enable intelligent agents to aggregate
information from various local systems, such as smart meters, auto-
matic feeders and substations. Consequently, agents have enough
context awareness to safely and effectively control the grid system.
When these systems communicate over Internet Protocol (IP), they
benefit from industry standards that deliver reliable and cost-effective
networks with plenty of headroom.
Distributed intelligence is essential for increasing the capabilities
of tomorrow’s grid. With respect to energy generation, computation-
ally intensive simulation models are used by renewable energy plants
to better predict energy demand and factor in weather conditions,
information required to address intermittency issues and reduce
reserve capacity. Energy distribution infrastructure requires high-
performance substations in order to optimize service voltage and
phase in real-time, thereby improving energy efficiency. Energy con-
sumption is easier to manage when home monitoring systems have
sufficient computing power to implement conservation programs,
such as demand-side management services. Using platforms based
on Intel® silicon components, equipment manufacturers can develop
more intelligent systems capable of distributing intelligence and
decision making throughout the grid.
Intel® Solutions. Ready for Tomorrow’s Grid
Intel’s standards-based embedded building blocks are ready to enable
more intelligent equipment within the grid, spanning huge turbines
that generate energy, control systems that distribute power and
smart meters that monitor end-user consumption. These software-
compatible products allow equipment manufacturers to develop a
scalable family of reliable products running off a common code base,
thus saving development cost. The high-performance Intel® Core™
processor family with multi-core technology supplies the comput-
ing horsepower needed to run protocol stacks, protocol conversion
and data preprocessing algorithms in today’s and tomorrow’s power
systems. Intel® Atom™ processors can be used in fanless systems de-
signed to satisfy strict EMI/EMC and form factor requirements. In all,
systems with Intel® processors deliver predictable performance and
ease troubleshooting, even for non-IT personnel.
Supporting this wide range of equipment types, Intel processors,
chipsets and advanced technologies provide many capabilities that
can be applied to the regeneration of the electrical utility industry.
These technologies, which are built into Intel silicon components,
improve remote management, virtualization and security, thereby
enabling equipment manufacturers to better address the require-
ments of next-generation power grids. As a result, utilities and
network operators can enhance their ability to manage, maintain
and protect their energy infrastructure by using Intel technologies
such as:
•Intel® Active Management Technology1 (Intel® AMT): Improves remote diagnostic and repair capabilities, helping to increase equipment availability.
•Intel® Virtualization Technology2 (Intel® VT): Improves software reliability by isolating application code and helping to prevent dangerous interactions.
•Intel® Trusted Execution Technology3 (Intel® TXT): Enhances grid security by preventing any node from executing malicious software.
For more information on Intel® product technologies, visit
www.intel.com/technology/advanced_comm.
Energy Trends Increase Embedded Computing Requirements
Regulatory and market realities are requiring a new way of thinking
for utilities, and the use of standards-based building blocks to build
out the grid will drive greater plant efficiency, higher renewable
energy production and more advanced conservation programs.
Greater equipment consolidation: Looking to minimize network
complexity, utility operators expect equipment manufacturers to
consolidate traditional single-function devices on the grid network
onto a more open modular and high-performance platform.
Transition from analog to digital: Data will be communicated across
multiple networks, which necessitates that control platforms have the
computing power to perform more protocol conversions and data
pre-processing, so all the data doesn’t have to go over LAN.
Faster responses to weather conditions: Renewable energy
sources require the computing power to evaluate changing weather
conditions, like wind direction and sun intensity, and respond by
adjusting the position of turbine blades and solar panels in real-time.
2
White Paper: Architecting Tomorrow’s Electrical Grid
More sophisticated demand management programs: Utility
operators are implementing energy conservation initiatives, such
as time-of-day usage fees and dynamic pricing, which will benefit
from intelligence distributed throughout the grid.
Needed: Flexible and Scalable Open Modular PlatformsEach element on the grid will demand a particular set of features; how-
ever, most elements can often be designed using a single-processor
architecture with exceptional scalability, upgradeability and flexibility.
•Large processor selection: With a wide choice of processors, it’s straightforward to scale designs to meet the right price-performance.
•Single code base: Equipment manufacturers can easily upgrade designs when the processor family is completely code compatible.
•I/O flexibility: Open modular systems, supporting multiple standard busses, allow designers to satisfy a wide range of I/O requirements.
•Reliable supplier: Chip manufacturers, with a reputation for delivering long life cycle products, help preserve equipment manufacturers’ development investments.
Why Intel for Equipment Manufacturers?
Equipment manufacturers are depending on mature and capable
development tools to deliver advanced equipment for tomorrow’s
grid. They can turn around designs more quickly and cost effectively
with Intel®-based platforms, which are supported by an established
array of open and interoperable development tools.
•Open development environment: Robust and interoperable development tools lower R&D and test and validation efforts.
•Open modular systems: There’s no need to overhaul hardware and software with every new design because the scalability, upgrade-ability and flexibility make it easy to add new features, as needed.
•Same development and production platforms: Use the same hardware and software throughout the development chain, as opposed to some proprietary platforms where developers must use different platforms to write, simulate, assemble and test code.
•Choice and flexibility: The Intel® Embedded and Communications Alliance, Intel’s extensive third-party development network, can dramatically cut the time and cost to develop solutions by offering a wide choice of applications, software, operating systems and technical expertise (intel.com/go/eca).
Energy Platforms in the NetworkEnergy Generation (Wind Turbines): Guide vanes play a
critical role in a wind turbine system because they tell the
controller the direction of the wind. Controlling the vane’s
pitch, rotation and functions, rugged embedded Intel® archi-
tecture platforms allow guide vanes to respond to changing
wind conditions in real-time without human intervention.
Controllers based on energy-efficient Intel® processors, such
as Intel® Core™ i7 processors, are sealed, fanless and designed
to withstand demanding environmental conditions and ensure
maximum mean time before failure (MTBF). Altogether, an av-
erage wind turbine has as many as ten microprocessors, some
of which are used for redundancy.
Energy Distribution (Control Systems): Substation control
systems monitor and control all relevant operating sections
of an electrical distribution network, either as local control
systems providing distributed intelligence or as higher-level
control systems managing all the stations in the supply
network. These platforms can benefit from the computing
horsepower supplied by Intel Core and Intel® Xeon proces-
sors that perform real-time monitoring, analysis and control of
electricity transmission and distribution networks. When intel-
ligence is distributed throughout the grid, soft programmable
logic controllers (soft PLCs) can respond quickly to events and
minimize production downtime associated with network
disturbances. Distributed intelligence, throughout the grid and
its end points, enables optimized levels of automation and
decision making at each link in the chain. It also facili-tates
greater communication, visibility and collaboration across the
entire grid.
Energy Consumption Monitoring (Smart Homes): Home
energy management (HEM) systems facilitate the implementa-
tion of energy-savings programs that benefit both consumers,
through lower electricity bills, and utilities, through avoided gen-
eration, distribution and emission costs. For example, systems
will collect and display detailed information about overall elec-
tricity consumption and usage patterns for appliances, allowing
consumers to better monitor consumption. Still, the success of
energy demand reduction programs hinges on engaging home
users, who need innovative user interfaces that provide useful
alerts and displays (e.g., peak time and peak usage) and make
it easier to control devices. Small, intelligent metering systems,
based on the Intel® Atom™ processor, can be designed with an
attractive and energy-efficient multi-function display device
that is centrally located within the home.
3
White Paper: Architecting Tomorrow’s Electrical Grid
Additional information about Intel® energy solutions can be found www.intel.com/go/energy.
1 Intel® vPro™ technology includes powerful Intel® Active Management Technology (Intel® AMT). Intel AMT requires the computer system to have an Intel AMT-enabled chipset, network hardware and software, as well as connection with a power source and a corporate network connection. Setup requires configuration by the purchaser and may require scripting with the management console or further integration into existing security frameworks to enable certain functionality. It may also require modifications of implementation of new business processes. With regard to notebooks, Intel AMT may not be available or certain capabilities may be limited over a host OS-based VPN or when connecting wirelessly, on battery power, sleeping, hibernating or powered off. For more information, see www.intel.com/technology/platform-technology/intel-amt/.
2 Intel® Virtualization Technology requires a computer system with an enabled Intel® processor, BIOS, virtual machine monitor (VMM) and, for some uses, certain platform software enabled for it. Functionality, performance or other benefits will vary depending on hardware and software configurations and may require a BIOS update. Software applications may not be compatible with all operating systems. Please check with your application vendor.
3 No computer system can provide absolute security under all conditions. Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (Intel® TXT) requires a computer system with Intel® Virtualization Technology, an Intel TXT-enabled processor, chipset, BIOS, Authenticated Code Modules and an Intel TXT-compatible measured launched environment (MLE). The MLE could consist of a virtual machine monitor, an OS or an application. In addition, Intel TXT requires the system to contain a TPM v1.2, as defined by the Trusted Computing Group and specific software for some uses. For more information, see http://www.intel.com/technology/security.
INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH INTEL® PRODUCTS. NO LICENSE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, BY ESTOPPEL OR OTHERWISE, TO ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IS GRANTED BY THIS DOCUMENT. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN INTEL’S TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE FOR SUCH PRODUCTS, INTEL ASSUMES NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER, AND INTEL DISCLAIMS ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY, RELATING TO SALE AND/OR USE OF INTEL PRODUCTS INCLUDING LIABILITY OR WARRANTIES RELATING TO FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, MERCHANTABILITY, OR INFRINGEMENT OF ANY PATENT, COPYRIGHT OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT. UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED IN WRITING BY INTEL, THE INTEL PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED NOR INTENDED FOR ANY APPLICATION IN WHICH THE FAILURE OF THE INTEL PRODUCT COULD CREATE A SITUATION WHERE PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH MAY OCCUR.
Intel may make changes to specifications and product descriptions at any time, without notice. Designers must not rely on the absence or characteristics of any features or instructions marked “reserved” or “undefined.” Intel reserves these for future definition and shall have no responsibility whatsoever for conflicts or incompatibilities arising from future changes to them. The information here is subject to change without notice. Do not finalize a design with this information.
The products described in this document may contain design defects or errors known as errata which may cause the product to deviate from published specifications. Current characterized errata are available on request. Contact your local Intel sales office or your distributor to obtain the latest specifications and before placing your product order. Copies of documents which have an order number and are referenced in this document, or other Intel literature, may be obtained by calling 1-800-548-4725, or by visiting Intel’s Web site at www.intel.com.
Copyright © 2009 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Atom, and Core are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. Printed in USA 0611/MS/TM/PDF Please Recycle 322958-002US
Why Intel for Utility Operators?As utility operators push the technology envelope to enable inno-
vation, they need to ensure the software applications they deploy
have a long, useful life. Extending the life cycle of software, Intel®
Architecture Processors offer a processor upgrade path and power-
efficiency while supplying the computing performance required for
advanced applications.
•Performance headroom: Intel processors with multi-core tech- nology supply the computing power required for today’s applications, as well as the headroom to run additional applications demanded in the future.
•Preserve software investments: Since Intel® architecture processors are software compatible and share key security and man-ageability features, utility operators can be confident their existing applications will run on next-generation platforms while delivering a secure, manageable environment, which saves future development and validation cost.
•Power-efficiency: Intel processors deliver the CPU speed necessary to run the most demanding applications and reduce power consump-tion when the processing workload decreases.
•Supplier stability: Intel has been delivering embedded silicon products with long life cycle support (seven years) for over 30 years; and as a result, Intel has earned its strong reputation as a stable and value-added supplier.
Summary
In order to meet the high expectations for tomorrow’s grid, utility
operators need to distribute computing intelligence, which allows
decision making near the sources of information and point of control.
Facilitating this architectural transformation, equipment manufacturers
are developing standards-based systems with more computing power
and reliable IP connectivity, which lower costs and increase product flex-
ibility. When systems are based on Intel processors, manufacturers and
utility operators have the necessary computing horsepower as well as
the ability to reuse software on multiple platforms, today and tomorrow.
Leveraging Intel’s technology leadership, commitment to quality and
volume manufacturing capabilities, the energy industry can boost the
intelligence of the grid in the fastest and most cost-effective manner.
Intel platforms satisfy the computing requirements across many
aspects of energy infrastructure, including energy generation,
distribution and consumption monitoring systems.